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Large-Eddy-Simulations of the unsteady behaviour of a hypersonic intake at Mach 5
No full textThree-dimensional high-fidelity numerical simulations of a Mach 5 hypersonic ramjet intake are performed combining a high-order and time-accurate Large-Eddy-Simulation model with a sharp-interface Immersed Boundary Method. The analysis provides a detailed characterisationof the unsteady behaviour of the intake. A systematic investigation is carried out varying the blockage of the intake channel and, in particular, three blockage levels are investigated as far as their effect on the flow. The analysis shows that two main unsteady phenomena occur, the former at high-frequency (little buzz) and the latter at low frequency (big buzz). When the intake channel is entirely opened only the little buzz is present, while in partially blocked conditions, the big buzz prevails. We will show how the big buzz is correlated to the convection of high-density high-pressure spots from the entrance of the intake channel, which creates the oscillatory unsteady behaviour
Examining the experiences and support needs of bereaved parents following the death of a child during early adulthood from cancer.
No full textBackgroundFollowing a child’s death from cancer, parents experience a unique grief which may be experienced differently by mothers and fathers. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the particular bereavement experiences of the parents of young adults and their support needs.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to investigate the bereavement experiences and support needs of parents following the death of a child (aged 16 29 years old) from cancer and explore how these change over time.MethodsThe study used a Charmazian constructivist grounded theory ( approach. Semi structured interviews were conducted with 11 parents (seven mothers, four fathers) who were purposefully sampled from one specialist cancer centre and who had been bereaved for between 15 months and7 years. Data were analysed inductively using the constant comparative approach with initial and focused coding for category development and core category identification.Results‘Living with continual loss’ emerged as the core category which was central to parents’ experiences of bereavement. Feelings of continual loss were compounded by parents’ lack of information about bereavement (‘grieving in the dark’) and a perceived lack of understanding and support from families and friend s (‘grieving alone’). Nevertheless, parents discovered strategies to help them manage living with continual loss (‘changing routines’, ‘preserving the meaning of home’, ‘maintaining memories and presence’ and ‘sharing experiences’).ConclusionsThis is the first study focusing on the experiences and support needs of bereaved parents of young adults who have died from cancer. It has revealed that parents lived with a continual sense of loss irrespective of the length of bereavement. While they dev eloped strategies over time tomanage this loss, they experienced a lack of information and empathetic emotional support
Understanding Scholarly Neural Network System Diagrams Through Application of VisDNA
No full textWe utilise VisDNA as a tool for understanding neural network system architecture diagrams. Through examples from scholarly proceedings, we find that the application of the framework to this ecological and complex domain is effective for reflecting on these diagrams. We argue for additional vocabulary to describe semiotic variability and internal inconsistency or misuse of visual encoding principles in diagrams. Further, for application to system diagrams, we propose the addition of \Grouping by Object" as a new visual encoding principle, and \Emphasising" as a new visual encoding type
On The Relationship Between Differential Algebra and Tropical Differential Algebraic Geometry
No full textThis paper presents the relationship between differential algebra and tropical differential algebraic geometry, mostly focusing on the existence problem of formal power series solutions for systems of polynomial ODE and PDE. Moreover, it improves an approximation theorem involved in the proof of the fundamental theorem of tropical differential algebraic geometry which permits to improve this latter by dropping the base field uncountability hypothesis used in the original version
Extended gene panel testing in lobular breast cancer
No full textPurpose: Lobular breast cancer (LBC) accounts for ~15% of breast cancer. Here, we studied the frequency of pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in an extended panel of genes in women affected with LBC. Methods: 302 women with LBC and 1567 without breast cancer were tested for BRCA1/2 PGVs. A subset of 134 LBC affected women who tested negative for BRCA1/2 PGVs underwent extended screening, including: ATM, CDH1, CHEK2, NBN, PALB2, PTEN, RAD50, RAD51D and TP53. Results: 35 PGVs were identified in the group with LBC, of which 22 were in BRCA1/2. Ten actionable PGVs were identified in additional genes (ATM(4), CDH1(1), CHEK2(1), PALB2(2) and TP53(2)). Overall, PGVs in four genes conferred a significant increased risk for LBC. Odds ratios (ORs) were: BRCA1: OR=13.17 (95%CI: 2.83-66.38; P=0.0017), BRCA2: OR=10.33 (95%CI: 4.58-23.95; P<0.0001) and ATM: OR=8.01 (95%CI: 2.52-29.92; P=0.0053). We did not detect an increased risk of LBC for PALB2, CDH1 or CHEK2. Conclusion: The overall PGV detection rate was 11.59%, with similar rates of BRCA1/2 (7.28%) PGVs as for other actionable PGVs (7.46%), indicating a benefit for extended panel genetic testing in LBC. We also report a previously unrecognised association of pathogenic variants in ATM with LBC
Government policy changes and organizational goal setting:Extensions to the behavioral theory of the firm
No full textThe increasing frequency and extent of government policy changes in many countries and industries has exposed an important theoretical gap about how such changes influence organizational goal setting. This paper extends the behavioral theory of the firm to account for changes in government policy on goal dimensions (i.e., what goals are adopted) and goal aspirations (i.e., the target levels adopted). We advance propositions regarding the specification of goal dimensions and add a new factor into the aspiration adaptation model to account for anticipatory (i.e., forward-looking) responses on the part of firms to government policy changes
Restoring perivascular adipose tissue function in obesity using exercise
No full textPurpose: Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) exerts an anti-contractile effect which is vital in regulating vascular tone. This effect is mediated via sympathetic nervous stimulation of PVAT by a mechanism which involves noradrenaline uptake through organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3), and β3-adrenoceptor mediated adiponectin release. In obesity, autonomic dysfunction occurs, which may result in a loss of PVAT function and subsequent vascular disease. Accordingly we have investigated abnormalities in obese PVAT, and the potential for exercise in restoring function. Methods: Vascular contractility to electrical field stimulation (EFS) was assessed ex vivo in the presence of pharmacological tools in ±PVAT vessels from obese and exercised obese mice. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect changes in expression of β3-adrenoceptors, OCT3, and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα) in PVAT. Results: High fat feeding induced hypertension, hyperglycaemia, and hyperinsulinemia, which was reversed using exercise; independent of weight loss. Obesity induced a loss of the PVAT anti-contractile effect, which could not be restored via β3-adrenoceptor activation. Moreover, adiponectin no longer exerts vasodilation. Additionally, exercise, reversed PVAT dysfunction in obesity by reducing inflammation of PVAT, and increasing β3-adrenoceptor and OCT3 expression, which were downregulated in obesity. Furthermore, the vasodilator effects of adiponectin were restored.Conclusion: Loss of neutrally-mediated PVAT anti-contractile function in obesity will contribute to the development of hypertension and type-II diabetes. Exercise training or pharmacological intervention at the level of nitric oxide signalling, will restore function and treat the vascular complications of obesity.<br/
Size-Distribution of Irradiation-Induced Dislocation-Loops in Materials Used in the Nuclear Industry
No full textNeutron or proton irradiation induced dislocation loops in Zr and its alloys are usually characterized by electron microscopy methods. In plastically deformed materials X-ray line profile analysis (XLPA) is now a well-established tool to determine dislocation densities (DDs) with excellent agreement between XLPA and TEM analysis. In irradiated zirconium alloys, however, XLPA determined DDs are often considerably larger than those obtained by TEM. In ion irradiated Cu and W it was shown that X-ray diffraction or MD simulations give significantly larger dislocation loop densities than conventional TEM analysis, which suggests that the smallest loops remain undetected by TEM. Based on these results we developed a new methodology to determine power-law size-distributions of irradiation-induced dislocation loops. We assume that only loops larger than a certain threshold are fully counted in TEM micrographs, whereas XLPA detects all the loops in the entire size range. This new analysis procedure shows that in neutron irradiated Zircaloy-2 in the channel-box materials the total DD is larger than in the cladding materials, even though TEM counting shows the opposite. We also found that there is a correlation between the reciprocal square-root of <a>-loop DDs and the diameter of <a>-loops. Our work shows that irradiation induced loop-formation and irradiation-damage in general can be better determined when we combine TEM investigations with XLPA
Revitalising race equality policy? Assessing the impact of the Race Equality Charter Mark for British universities
No full textThe Race Equality Charter (REC) was introduced in 2014 as a national policy initiative that aims to support UK universities in developing cultural and systemic changes to promote race equality for Black and minority ethnic (BME) staff and students. Drawing on quantitative data, we locate the REC within a complex picture of undergraduate student diversity and significant attainment gaps between white students and other groups. Utilising qualitative interviews and observations to further explore the questions our quantitative analysis raises, we show that the REC is not perceived as a significant vehicle for progressing race equality work in award-holding institutions. Rather, it is mostly applied as an enhancement tool to help shape and sustain existing race equality initiatives that produce incremental change. This, we argue, suggests the REC’s intention to inspire race equality approaches that favour institutional strategic planning at the highest level, is yet to be realised
REiNS: Genotype-Phenotype correlations in neurofibromatosis and their potential clinical use
No full textObjective: As clinically validated biomarkers for neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) and neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2), have not been identified to date, we wanted to determine whether genotype-phenotype correlations are usefull in clinical trials in Neurofibromatosis 1 and 2 Methods: The biomarker group first performed a systematic literature search and reviewed existing data on genetic biomarkers in NF1 and NF2 and in in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNST). The group then met during a series of consensus meetings to develop a jointreport.Results: We found that In NF2 the genetic severity score is clearly of potential clinical use. In NF1despite over 3000 constitutional variants having been described in the NF1 gene, only four actionable genotype phenotype correlations currently exist. The diagnosis and treatment decision of these tumours should ideally include histopathology and compilation of some of the genetic markersConclusion: We summarized emerging clinical use of genotype-phenotype correlations in Neurofibromatosis